Changing from a rules-based to a principles-based accounting logic: a Review

Marta Alexandra Silva Guerreiro, Lúcia Lima Rodrigues, Russell Craig

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    Abstract

    We explore influences on unlisted companies when Portugal moved from a code law, rules-based accounting system, to a principles-based accounting system of adapted International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Institutionalisation of the new principles-based system was generally facilitated by a socio-economic and political context that increasingly supported IFRS logic. This helped central actors gain political opportunity, mobilise important allies, and accommodate major protagonists. The preparedness of unlisted companies to adopt the new IFRS-based accounting system voluntarily was explained by their desire to maintain social legitimacy. However, it was affected negatively by the embeddedness of rule-based practices in the ‘old’ prevailing institutional logic.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)110-120
    Number of pages11
    JournalAustralasian Accounting Business and Finance Journal
    Volume8
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 30 Jun 2014

    Keywords

    • change
    • IFRS
    • institutional
    • Portugal
    • principles
    • rules

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